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M90+.
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Didn’t expect to get too much out of this because of the high wispy cloud and only got 9 subs, but not too bad.
| Object ID | M51 Canes Venatici |
| Details | Mag. 8.4 Size 11.2′ x 6.9′ |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian MPCC |
| Camera | QHY168C @-15°C IDAS P2 |
| Exposure(s) | 29x180s 10/50 gain/offset darks, flats, bias |
| Capture | NINA |
| Processing | APP, Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI |
M42 Ha with Telescope Live in Chile CHI-1
Free trial of Telescope Live using one-click imaging (basically piggybacking onto other observations). It’s really not the same as doing it yourself, with your own equipment, from you own garden, with all the challenges. But when the weather is dire – it’s fun! Advanced, full control of the telescopes costs A LOT more. though!
| Object ID | M42 Orion Nebula |
| Details | 2021-02-08 |
| Telescope | Planewave CDK24 https://help.telescope.live/hc/en-us/articles/360002557197-CHI-1-60cm-F6-5-Reflector Aperture: 610 mm (24 inches) Focal Length: 3962 mm F-ratio: 6.5 Mount: Mathis MI-1000/1250 |
| Camera | Model: FLI PL 9000 Pixel Size: 12 μm Pixel Array: 3056 x 3056 Pixel Resolution: 0.62 arcsec/pixel Cooling: -25 degrees |
| Exposure(s) | 6x30s Ha Calibrated |
| Capture | TelescopeLive |
| Processing | SiriL, Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI |
M52 & Bubble Nebula
Strong moonlight
| Object ID | M52 and NGC 7635 Cassiopeia |
| Details | 2021-01-23 Mag. 6.9, 10.0 Size 13′, 15’x8′ |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian MPCC |
| Camera | QHY168C @-15°C Tri-band |
| Exposure(s) | 20x300s 2/20 gain/offset darks, flats, bias |
| Capture | NINA |
| Processing | APP, Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI |
10 years of M42
I’ve been imaging M42 for a long time and this is my set of images from 2010 to 2020.
Telescopes used were:
- 80mm refractor
- 180mm Mak-Cass
- 200mm Newtonian
- 200mm RC8
- 250mm Newtonian.
Cameras were:
- Canon 350D
- 350D astro-modified
- 600D
- ATIK 460EX mono CCD
- QHY168C CMOS
Filters include:
- Lumicon Deep Sky
- Skywatcher LP
- Astronomik EOS CLS
- IDAS P2
- LRGB, Ha, OII, SII
M50 (NGC 2323)
Just caught it by the way…
| Object ID | M50, NGC 2323 Monoceros |
| Details | Mag. 5.9 Size 16′ |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian MPCC |
| Camera | QHY168C @-15°C IDAS P2 |
| Exposure(s) | 10x90s 10/50 gain/offset darks, flats, bias |
| Capture | NINA |
| Processing | APP, Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI |
M42 & NGC 1977 mosaic Dec 2020
The annual M42 this year is a mosaic with the Running Man. APP dealt with the gradients really well after messing with the Normalisation and Integration parameters.
| Object ID | M42, NGC 1977 |
| Details | 2020-12-19 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4. Newtonian MPCC |
| Camera | QHY168c @-15°C IDAS P2 |
| Exposure(s) | 10x180s each pane, 2/10 Darks, flats, dark-flats |
| Capture | NINA |
| Processing | APP, Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI |
Reminder:
Mosaics in APP – defaults unless otherwise stated
1. Load – all as normal – you don’t need to use separate sessions for each frame if you did it all at the same time
2. Calibrate as normal
3. Analyse stars – I needed to increase from 500 or it wouldn’t work – went 1400 – might have been the subject but I suspect it helps to stitch the mosaic together
4. Register – Registration mode – mosaic, use dynamic distortion model, uncheck same camera and optics (will be suggested if you don’t)
Scale stop = 1 (for a 10% mosaic overlap)
5. Normalize – Mode – advanced – neutralize background
LNC degree – 2nd degree, iterations 3
6. Integrate – Enable MBB – 10% because I did 10% overlap in the mosaic
INTEGRATE – and if you’re lucky it all works
M31 second test of QHY168C
Second test with longer exposures but same gain/offset. Nice to have a larger field of view again.
| Object ID | M31 Andromeda Galaxy |
| Details | 2020-08-31 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian MPCC |
| Camera | QHY168C @-15°C 10/50 gain/offset IDAS P2 |
| Exposure(s) | 23x90s darks, bias, flats |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | APP, PS |
M42 for 2019 narrowband
This year in narrowband. Two attempts at colour mapping.
Need to get rid of the MPCC with this telescope as the image is better without. Too much star trailing with.
| Object ID | M42 Orion Nebula |
| Details | 2019-01-22 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian, MPCC |
| Camera | Atik 460EX @-20C Baader Ha, OIII, SII filters |
| Exposure(s) | 10x120s 2×2 each Darks |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity, Photoshop OHS, SHO colour mapping |
M44 Praesepe / Beehive cluster
Poor night of transparency and seeing so just got this in the passing. Lots of sky fog that got processed out.
| Object ID | M44 / Praesepe / Beehive cluster, Cancer |
| Details | 2019-01-07 |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian, MPCC |
| Camera | Atik 460EX Baader RGB filters |
| Exposure(s) | 10x60s each RGB 2×2 Darks |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity, Photoshop |
M42 Red channel only
Shows Trapezium stars really well with just Red channel.
Submitted to HOYS-CAPS project.
| Object ID | M42 Orion Nebula |
| Details | 2018-12-09 22:16 – 22:42 UT |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian MPCC IDAS P2 Baader Red filter |
| Camera | ATIK 460EX @-20C |
| Exposure(s) | 15x90s darks |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity, Photoshop |
M31 first test of old 10 inch Newt
First test of the old 10 inch Newtonian I picked up. Focuser and dovetail were a mess, but with some work it could be good. Optically pretty sound though.
| Object ID | M31 Andromeda galaxy Mag. 3.44, Size 3.1 x 1 degrees Andromeda |
| Details | 2018-10-11 22:26 – 23:49 UT |
| Telescope | 250mm f4.8 Newtonian, MPCC IDAS P2 LPR filter Guided |
| Camera | Atik 460EX, Baader LRGB filters |
| Exposure(s) | L 16x120s 1×1, RGB 10x60s 2×2 each darks |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity 4, Photoshop |
M40 (Winnecke 4)
Messier 40, also known as Winnecke 4. Basically it’s a double star, and an optical double at that!
It was discovered by Messier while he was looking for a nebula reported in the area by Johannes Hevelius. He couldn’t find it so he catalogued this double star instead. Most have been a slow night or something…
And why did I bother imaging it? Well it was in the only patch of clear sky there was and I only had a few minutes before it clouded over. Still, it’s another Messier object to add to my list 🙂
| Object ID | M40 / Winnecke 4 Double star, Ursa Major Mag. 8.4, Size 0.8′ |
| Details | 2018-09-14 through gaps in cloud |
| Telescope | 200mm f5 Newtonian, MPCC IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Camera | Canon 600D |
| Exposure(s) | 5x20s darks, flats |
| Capture | APT |
| Processing | Nebulosity 4, Photoshop |
M39 (NGC 7092)
Nice wide open cluster with a deep Milky Way background too.
| Object ID | M39 (NGC 7092) Open cluster Cygnus Mag. 4.6, Size 32′ |
| Details | 2018-09-08 Not very transparent. |
| Telescope | 200mm f5 Newtonian, MPCC IDAS P2 LPR filter Guiding c80ED, ASI 290MC |
| Camera | Canon 600D |
| Exposure(s) | 10x60s, darks and flats |
| Capture | APT, PHD |
| Processing | Nebulosity, Photoshop |
Orion and Running Man nebulae
Red channel has poor focus.
| Object ID | M42,43 and Sh2-279 |
| Details | Nebulae, Orion Mag. 4 Size 65’x60′ |
| Telescope | C80ED @ f5.6 (x0.75 reducer) |
| Camera | Atik 460EX (-15C) and SX filter wheel IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Exposure(s) | L 10x60s 1×1, RGB 10x60s each 2×2 darks, no flats or bias |
| Capture | APT, finder guiding with PHD2 |
| Processing | Stacked in Nebulosity, processed in Photoshop and Lightroom |
M45 Pleiades
A new combination tonight.
| Object ID | M45, Pleiades |
| Details | Open Cluster, Taurus Mag. 1.6, Size 110′ |
| Telescope | C80ED @ f5.6 (x0.75 reducer) |
| Camera | Atik 460EX (-15C) and SX filter wheel IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Exposure(s) | L 10x60s 1×1, RGB 10x60s each 2×2 darks, no flats or bias |
| Capture | APT unguided |
| Processing | Stacked in Nebulosity, processed in Photoshop |
M57 (NGC 6720)
Another attempt at this object. Not been back to this for years.
Trying a new style of “data card” below:
| Object ID | M57 (NGC 6720) Ring Nebula |
| Details | Planetary Nebula, Lyra Mag 8.8, Size 1.4’x1.0′ |
| Date/Time | 2017-10-22 |
| Telescope | 200mm f8 RC |
| Camera | Canon EOS 600D, IDAS P2 LPR filter |
| Exposure(s) | L 30x60s Darks ISO800 |
| Capture | APT, piggyback guiding with 70mm f/7 refractor |
| Processing | Stacked in Nebulosity, processed in Photoshop and Lightroom |
M51 (NGC 5194)
“Whirlpool”, Spiral Galaxy, Canes Venatici
Mag 8.4 Size 11.2′ x 6.9′
2017-02-16
200mm f8 RC
Piggyback guiding with 70mm f/7 refractor
L 10×240s 2×2, RGB 10×120s 4×4 Darks Bias Flats
Atik 460EX (-25C), LRGB filters, IDAS P2 LPR filter
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity3, PS CC, LightRoom
Best clear night for a while. Quite transparent and still.
M42 for 2017
Got to do it every year – this is the 2017 version. Also trying out my new Revelation x0.75 reducer for the RC8. Seems to work very well for a very reasonable price £69. Spacing should be 80mm +/- 5mm. I managed to get 75mm with my filter wheel and 460EX.
Orion Nebula, Diffuse Emission Nebula, Orion
Mag 4.0 Size 85’x60′
2017-01-01
200mm f8 RC at f6 (new Revelation x0.75 reducer)
Piggyback guiding with new 70mm f/7 achromatic refractor
L 15×60s 2×2, RGB 15×30s 4×4 BPM
Atik 460EX (-25C), LRGB filters, IDAS P2 LPR filter
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity3, PS CC, LightRoom
M31 core
Haven’t visited this one for ages. FOV obviously too small to fit the whole galaxy in.
Had to stop after 6 exposures because sky transparency was reducing and dew was becoming an issue.
Dust lanes show up nicely.
2016-10-02
200mm f5 Newtonian, piggyback guiding C80ED
L 6×90 1×1, RGB 6×60 2×2
BPM, flats
Atik 460EX (-21C), LRGB filters, IDAS P2 LPR filter
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity3, PS CC, LightRoom
M33 (NGC 598)
Spiral Galaxy, Traingulum
Mag 7 Size 73’x45′
2015-10-08
200mm f8 RC, piggyback guiding C80ED
L 8×300 2×2, RGB 8×240 3×3
BPM, flats
Atik 460EX (-10C), LRGB filters, IDAS P2 LPR filter
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity3, PS CC, LightRoom
Updated 2015-10-09 using the 460EX. Older one below.
Low surface brightness. Hard to image effectively.
2012-09-18
200mm f8 RC, OAG
15x240s, 2x360x ISO 1600, darks, flats
Canon EOS 350D modded, Astronomik CLS
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity, PS CS5
M51 (NGC 5194)
“Whirlpool”, Spiral Galaxy, Canes Venatici
Mag 8.4 Size 11.2′ x 6.9′
2015-04-17
200mm f8 RC, piggyback guiding C80ED
L 10×300 2×2, RGB 10×240 3×3
Atik 460EX (-10C), LRGB filters, IDAS P2 LPR filter
Captured in APT, Processed in Nebulosity3, PS CC, LightRoom
Lots wrong with the processing – still can’t get rid of hot pixels. Dust on sensor cover I think and flats haven’t totally got rid of it. But quite pleased.